In a rut and need food ideas

[RadioDorothy]

I am 4 stone overweight. Have got down to a reasonable weight a couple of times previously, once 14 years ago on WW, then again 5 years ago using MFP.

In the last few years I have battled to lose weight again because it's just so bloody stubborn. MFP, WW, Slimming World (sort of) - years ago I could drop 6lbs in a week by cutting down, now I struggle to lose half a lb in 3 weeks of eating 1300 cals a day! Now in a rut of dejectedly eating chicken, rice and veg with little variety, then unsurprisingly bingeing on cake because I'm so bored and not losing anything.

I have some food "issues" in that excess fruit, veg and fibre all set off IBS (e.g stomach cramps and 10 visits to the bog per day with just 2 sprigs of broccoli or a bowl of muesli/porridge). I avoid eggs or fish owing to a previous stomach bug experience, can't deal with the taste. I know, I know.

Many "diet" recipes seem to be heavy on the high fodmaps that send my bowels into overdrive (sorry tmi), I need some IBS friendly and egg/fish free ideas!

Is it worth trying Slimming World properly? I've half heartedly had a go using someone else's book but I struggled to understand it...

Is it bad form to bump your own thread?

I rarely get replies to my posts (or maybe a couple of one liners but no feedback). I guess I'm really boring and waffle too much. I need to up my game.

Maybe I should work harder on my titles. "Help me I'm a fat fuck with no idea" maybe.

Hey @RadioDorothy are you on Facebook? Have a look at Pinch of Nom, they have a website too. Full of Slimming World friendly meals, meal plans, ideas and help.
The website is full of crap but when you when you dig through, there is some amazing recipes.

They've got 'getting started' articles on them too so you can wrap your head around them easy

Looking at the fodmap diet, it would seem a lot of salad veg should be ok. At least lettuce, tomato and cucumber. So could you incorporate that? Maybe if you had a piece of chicken (different herbs / spices that you can tolerate/ cheese) with salad. Or ham with small bit of mayonnaise and salad. You could add a small amount of potato if you like.

Sorry just seen no cheese on fodmap. So scrap the cheese.

Ooh, thanks!

Yes, salad veg is usually OK and actually I'm all right with cheese too. Insoluble fibre/roughage and fructose causes me most problems, but I've sort of learned what to avoid over the years.

Sorry yes I'm on Facebook - off to have a look, ta!

It's hard when you have to watch out for the fodmap thing on top of everything else. Not so much food suggestions, but have you tried taking probiotics? Recent research seems to suggest they can help with IBS symptoms and also that healthy gut flora will help weight loss, and conversely poor gut flora will hinder it. Just a though - I've started taking them and they do seem to have helped a bit.
And I'm you're not a fat fuck

Ah you're too kind Kim. I am a bit though.

No hadn't thought much about probiotics, worth a look...isn't it weird that when I'm scoffing sugar and junk my stomach is absolutely fine, and the minute I eat proper food I can't get off the loo.

I know, it so goes against all the usual healthy eating advice. Good luck

My standard go-to lunch is hummus and veggie dippers. I home make hummus so I know it's low fat and healthy:

1 can of chickpeas and 2 desert spoons of fat free natural yoghurt (or the water from the tin) makes the basic recipe. I split this between two portions. Then sometimes add lemon juice and garlic, or beetroot, or cooked spinich, or turmeric and cumin. Or whatever I fancy. With extra stuff added to the basic recipe it usually then makes 3 portions rather than 2. Around 100-120 calories per portion.

Then I usually have one or two whole peppers, sliced. And 3 or 4 whole sticks of celery, sliced. But you can have anything you can dip - carrot sticks, cucumber, courgette etc. The whole meal is about 200 calories and mega filling.

Good one Fate, thanks - guts can get a bit iffy with chick peas but a small amount is alright